Legislative Committees

Healthcare Financing

The Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on Healthcare Financing considers matters relating to the direct funding of healthcare programs and any other Medicaid or public health assistance matters, fiscal matters relating to healthcare policy, Medicaid, MassHealth, the Uncompensated Care Pool and other related matters. Government underfunding for delivered healthcare services has long been a concern, and MHA is extremely active before this committee, meeting with, educating and engaging committee members to ensure the voice of the hospital, health system, and other healthcare provider community is heard during consideration of legislation moving through this committee.

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Public Health

The Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on Public Health considers matters regarding the public health of the commonwealth and other matters as referred. As its new name suggests, MHA and our members have an increasing focus on maintaining individuals’ health throughout their lives – as opposed to healing them when they fall ill. MHA is actively involved in matters of public health policy and legislation.

State Budget

The Massachusetts House, Senate and Joint Ways & Means Committees consider all matters relating to the finances of the Commonwealth. MHA educates, collaborates and otherwise works with members of these committees, and advocates on behalf of MHA members, to address state funding issues of concern to the hospital, health system, and healthcare provider communities. The association closely monitors the state budget process throughout the legislative session.

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Other Committees

A number of other state legislative committees occasionally deal with matters of interest to MHA and our members. Click on the individual committee names below to see bills, issues, legislation and other matters of interest that fall under these entities’ jurisdiction.

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Regulatory Agencies

EOHHS

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Health & Human Services (EOHHS) is the largest secretariat in the commonwealth, responsible for the Medicaid program, child welfare, public health, disabilities, veterans’ affairs, and elder affairs. Under the direction of the Secretary of Health & Human Services, EOHHS oversees the numerous state agencies involved in providing services to these populations in Massachusetts. MHA represents its members’ interests before these agencies and with the secretariat itself, educating and advocating on matters of vital importance to hospitals, health systems, and other care providers.

Health Policy Commission

The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission (HPC) is an independent state agency that develops policy to reduce healthcare cost growth and improve the quality of patient care. MHA engages and interacts with HPC staff and commissioners alike to ensure that our members’ perspectives are heard, taken into account and included at all stages of the HPC’s research, assessment and recommendations concerning broad healthcare cost and quality goals.

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CHIA

The Center for Healthcare Information Analysis (CHIA) is an independent agency that serves as the commonwealth’s primary hub for healthcare data and a key source of healthcare analytics that support state healthcare policy development. MHA works collaboratively with CHIA and other agencies to improve efficiency in the collection, dissemination and use of healthcare data and to promote administrative simplification.

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Attorney General

The Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General (AG)’s Health Care Division works to protect employers and consumers by ensuring that health providers, insurers, pharmaceutical companies, and other healthcare-related entities follow Massachusetts laws. MHA works to ensure that the AG’s office understands and takes into consideration how hospitals, health systems, physician organizations and other healthcare providers fulfill and are affected by state requirements including Community Benefits, Determination of Need (DoN), and more.

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MassHealth/ Medicaid

In Massachusetts, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are combined into one program called MassHealth. Medicaid is a shared state and federal program to provide health insurance for poor and disabled residents. CHIP is medical coverage source for individuals under age 19 whose parents earn too much income to qualify for Medicaid, but not enough to pay for private coverage. MHA monitors prospective and recently implemented changes to MassHealth, provides information about how specific aspects of the plan affect care providers, and advocates for fair and equitable implementation of the program.

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Department of Mental Health

The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health (DMH) provides access to services and supports to meet the mental health needs of Bay State residents of all ages. MHA engages with DMH to educate the department’s leaders and staff concerning mental and behavioral health issues, including regulations that affect Massachusetts hospitals and other care providers. MHA is a strong supporter of behavioral health parity, which calls for mental illnesses to be treated – and covered by health insurance – at the same level as physical illnesses, injuries and conditions.

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Department of Public Health

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) seeks to prevent illness, injury and premature death, assure access to high quality public health and healthcare services, and to promote wellness and health equity across the state. MHA engages with DPH on numerous issues ranging from responses to the opioid epidemic and tobacco cessation to healthcare facility licensure and workforce safety, advocating for the interests and concerns of our members.

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Licensing Boards

There are many state licensing boards that oversee various aspects of healthcare delivery in Massachusetts. Click on the name of one of the individual boards listed below for more information on that entity, its healthcare-related work, and MHA’s relevant advocacy and outreach efforts.

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Other Key Agencies

Numerous additional state agencies support, regulate, review or otherwise administer healthcare in Massachusetts. Click on the name of one of the individual agencies listed below for more information on their work, and MHA’s related advocacy and outreach efforts.